Border trade: Great potential, many challenges

(Chinhphu.vn) - With the advantage of a long border, Tuyen Quang has favorable conditions to develop border trade. In recent years, this activity has brought positive results. However, in order for border trade to truly become a driving force for sustainable development, the province still faces many bottlenecks in infrastructure, services and coordination mechanisms that need to be resolved soon.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Gia Long asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to support the province in removing difficulties and promoting cooperation with Chinese localities - Photo: Industry and Trade Newspaper

According to the report at the working session between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the People's Committee of Tuyen Quang province on the morning of August 25, in the period of 2021-2025, the total import-export turnover across the border reached nearly 1.55 billion USD, with an estimated 500 million USD in 2025 alone. This is an important result, affirming the increasingly important role of border trade in the local economic structure.

Cooperation with Yunnan and Guangxi provinces (China) is maintained regularly, contributing to facilitating trade. Tuyen Quang has also completed the official opening of the Sam Pun - Dien Bong border gate pair, putting into operation the international transport routes Ha Giang - Thanh Thuy - Thien Bao - Van Son and Ha Giang - Xin Man - Do Long - Van Son. Thanh Thuy Border Gate Economic Zone has attracted 40 investment projects in trade services, with a total registered capital of over 752 billion VND.

Along with that, trade promotion and business connection conferences are held regularly, opening up opportunities for cooperation in production and consumption of agricultural products, increasing the value of local goods. These results show that border trade has contributed to promoting international economic integration, creating livelihoods for border residents and strengthening the friendly relationship between Vietnam and China.

The knot has not been untied

Despite the achievements, Tuyen Quang's border trade still has many limitations. Import and export activities are currently mainly concentrated at the Thanh Thuy - Thien Bao international border gate pair, while other border gates are not yet active. The progress of some border traffic projects is still slow, and the opening of the passage at Lung Lan landmark 504 has not been completed.

Although investment has been made in infrastructure serving import and export, it is still not synchronized; logistics services have not met requirements. Exported goods are mainly raw materials with low added value; the province has not attracted large enterprises or strategic investors to lead the market.

Another challenge comes from the partners. The mechanism for coordinating imports from China is still limited, causing congestion of goods at the border gates at times. Border market activities and trade routes for border residents have not been restored and developed commensurate with demand.

These factors have caused the province's border trade to not create the expected momentum and not fully exploit its inherent potential.

Policy and infrastructure breakthroughs needed

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Gia Long affirmed that Tuyen Quang has great potential to develop border trade. He asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to support the province in removing difficulties, promoting cooperation with Chinese localities, especially in reducing cargo congestion and expanding the list of imported goods.

The province also proposed that the Central Government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade pay attention to investing in infrastructure for Thanh Thuy Border Gate Economic Zone, supporting resources to build an electricity system for 41 villages without electricity, and calling for investment in logistics services. An important proposal is to study and develop a strategy for developing official exports, piloting cross-border cooperation zones and smart border gate models.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade agreed with the recommendations and affirmed that it will accompany the province in developing border trade in the 2026-2030 period. The key solutions suggested include: Developing logistics infrastructure, expanding e-commerce, exploiting the strengths of typical agricultural products and building local product brands.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang emphasized that Tuyen Quang needs to develop a master plan for border trade development, focusing on comparative advantages and the needs of the Chinese market. In addition, the province needs to focus on deep processing to increase value, link trade with tourism and OCOP products, and take advantage of Resolution 68 of the Politburo to mobilize resources from the private sector.

Anh Tho

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thuong-mai-bien-gioi-tiem-nang-lon-thach-thuc-nhieu-10225082515420004.htm